Infographic: Should LeBron Wear the Headband in Game 7?

Headband? No headband? The data doesn't lie. Image: PopChartLab

After Game 6 of the NBA finals earlier this week, there was one question on everyone’s mind: What were those Heat fans thinking, leaving the game early? The other question, of course, was whether LeBron was going to wear his signature headband in Game 7.

For those who weren’t watching, here’s why it’s a legitimate concern. For the first 39 minutes or so of Game 6, with Spurs up 3-2 in the series, LeBron sported his trademark white headband. His team was getting trounced. But then, with the prospect of a seriously glum summer in South Beach staring the Heat in the face, something happened.

After a miserable third quarter, with about nine minutes left in the fourth and a Heat comeback gaining steam, LeBron put back a teammate’s errant shot with an authoritative dunk. He left the ground wearing the headband–and returned without it. Apparently, in the course of the slam, it got stuck in the net. (The fact that it’s hard to imagine a headband getting stuck in a nylon net lends a providential air to the whole thing.)

A few possessions later, LeBron stuffed Spurs star Tim Duncan, streaked to the other end of the court, sliced to the rim for a lay-up, and tied the game. The bald dome started seeming a little bit magical. So the question became: would he restore it for the all-important Game 7?

So, how does LeBron decide? It doesn’t hurt to look at the data. Thankfully, the tireless folks over at PopChartLab have whipped up this tidy summary of the King’s Game 6 performance, showing his stats extrapolated to a full 48 minutes with headband and without. And the numbers don’t lie. If I were a Heat fan, when I tune in tonight, I’d be hoping to see a big glistening dome atop that No. 6 jersey.